Loyola turns attention to bigger challenge against Tennessee

DALLAS — Loyola isn’t dwelling on its last-second victory over Miami on Thursday. Like they have all season, the Ramblers have honed in on their next opponent.

But that didn’t stop them from enjoying the moment for a little bit.

Donte Ingram said he and his roommate, Marques Townes, stayed up Thursday night rewatching Ingram’s miraculous last-second shot, which lifted Loyola to a 64-62 win.

“I was with him in the hotel, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, man. That shot was crazy,’ ” Townes said. “I couldn’t calm down.”

Even coach Porter Moser admitted he has relived the shot several times by watching it on his phone.

“I just got chills again,” Moser said. “How apropos for a Chicago kid to hit a shot like that in the NCAA Tournament?”

Despite making the “One Shining Moment” highlight-reel bucket, Ingram has stayed grounded and said he knows the team isn’t indestructible.

“Anyone can be beat on any given day,” Ingram said. “We just look at it as, hey, we are fortunate to be in this position. And we wanted this, [and] we’re not taking anything for granted. We’re here, and we’re here for a reason.”

Moser said he’s using Ingram’s shot to remind the players about the power of perseverance.

“It’s about believing,” Moser said. “It’s not over until the buzzer.

“There’s a million ways to find a way to win a game. And that’s how we’re going to use that. It’s not over until the end. Keep fighting, keep playing. And this team believes.”

Loyola is going to need those reminders against third-seeded Tennessee on Saturday (5:10 p.m., TNT).

Miami and Loyola matched up well and entered the tournament ranked 37th and 40th in the country, respectively, according to KenPom.com. Tennessee, on the other hand, came in 11th.

The Volunteers steamrolled Wright State 72-47 on Thursday. Loyola played Wright State in November and won by four.

With a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line, some of the Volunteers’ players said they don’t feel bad playing the villain in the Ramblers’ Cinderella story.

Tennessee has the size advantage at almost every position. Coming from the SEC, the Volunteers also play a more aggressive style, which is very different compared to the Missouri Valley Conference.

“They are physical, big, athletic,” Moser said. “[With] the rebounding aspect, the post play, they get after it. We don’t play teams like this.”

Loyola and Tennessee have momentum. The Ramblers have won 11 consecutive games and 18 of their last 19. The Volunteers have won seven of their last eight.

Townes is confident the Ramblers won’t back down against the bigger Volunteers.

“I don’t think we’re the top dogs at all,” Townes said. “We’re still chasing. We’re not being hunted. We’re the hunters. We’re still chasing after something. I know this team has something really special, but I don’t think we’re done yet. Just like our motto: No finish line. We’re not ready to go home yet.”

Follow me on Twitter @madkenney.

Email: mkenney@suntimes.com

Loyola’s keys to the game

With a Sweet 16 berth on the line, here’s what the Ramblers need to do to beat Tennessee:

Space the floor: One thing that makes Loyola so tough is its ability to space the floor. The Ramblers play well as a unit and don’t have a star player. They need to do what they’ve done all season: pass and shoot from the perimeter. The Ramblers are shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, which ranks 22nd nationally.

Krutwig plays big: Cameron Krutwig is only a freshman, but he has played a veteran role in Loyola’s success. At 6-9 and 290 pounds, Krutwig needs to use his size against a bigger Volunteers team, pulling down rebounds and limiting second-chance opportunities.

Don’t foul: Coach Porter Moser has done a good job making his team disciplined. Loyola hasn’t had a player foul out all season. The Ramblers had 14 fouls against Miami on Thursday. They can’t give Tennessee easy points. The Volunteers rank 39th in the nation with a free-throw percentage of 75.9.

— Madeline Kenney